Latching device



March 8, 1938f J w ALBIN 2,110,435

LATCHING DEVICE Filed May 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheel. l

' INVENTOR- JEREMIAH w. ALBINM March 8, 1938. I l ALBlN 2,110,435

' LATCHING DEVICE I Filed May 26, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MW 4 mm mm l 5 5'8 mm 1 1 \III-EIIIIIH INVENTOR JEREMIAH w. Maw

Patented Ma. s, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE m'rcnme DEVICE Jeremiah W. Albin, Babylon, N. Y. ApplieationMay 26, 1937, Serial No. 144,808 6 Claims. (01. 40-125) The present invention relates to.a latching construction which may be generally applied to attaching or latching sheet metal doors, cowls, covers, hoods, and so forth, to mounting structures or to mounting structures for automobile plates and so forth.

Although not specifically restricted thereto, the present invention may be particularly described in connection with its application to'a license plate or hood latching devices upon automobiles, stream-line trains, or airplanes in which a cover of sheet metal is to be firmly attached or latched to a mounting structure.

It is among the objects of the present invention to provide a simple latching construction of the character described which will be of inexpensive construction, may be readily operated to make a rigid connection which will not permit of rattling and which may be utilized for long periods of time without damage and without breakage.

Other objects will be obvious or will be apparent during the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the above objects, according to one embodiment of the present invention, it has been found most suitable to provide a key member having a cam end structure.

This key is pivotally mounted upon one of the elements to be locked together, while the other element is provided with an opening to receive said cam structure and with a curved plate latching means therefor.

Preferably, said plate should firmly hold said key in position when the same has been inserted through the opening and turned.

In the drawings are shown one preferred embodiment of the present invention, to which, however, the invention is by no means limited. This embodiment is shown merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

The above and other objects will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which will illustrate a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a front view of the locking device of the present invention upon the line I-l of Figure 3.

Figure 2 is a rear view of the combination of Figure 1 upon the line 2 2 of Figure 3;

Figure 3 is a side view upon the line 3-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a bottom view upon the line 4-4 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section view upon the line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a perspective view showing fragments of the two plates to be latched together, respectively carrying the key and receptor just before the key is inserted into position;

Figure 7 shows the device of the present invention applied to an automobile'license plate holder;

Figures 8 and 9 show alternative actuating constructions for the key of the device.

In Figures 10 to 17 are shown an alternative embodiment, particularly designed for the attachment of license plates to automobiles and vehicles; Figure 10 being a front fragmentary view showing a portion of the license plate, a rear bracket and the locking or latching device; Figure 11 being a transverse sectional view upon line |l--ll of Figure 10; Figure 12 being a-rear view upon the line I 2-12 of Figure 11; Figure 13 being a longitudinal sectional view upon the line l3-l3 of Figure 12;-Flgure 14 being a vertical sectional view upon the line il-H oftFigure 10; Figure 15 being a perspective view of the disengaging tool; Figure 16 being a side sectional view similar to Figure 13; showing the manner in which the tool of Figure 15 may be utilized and Figure 17 beinga perspective view showing the manner in which the connection of Figures 10 to ,14 may be utilized to hold the license plate in position.

Referring to Figures 1 to 4, the plate It] and the plate ll may take any desired form and may be extensions or portions of the hood, casing or cover of an automobile or a sheet metal door or cover on an airplane or train or part of a mounting structure. I

The front plate l0 carries the key structure l2, while the rear plate ll carriesthe latch I3.

' The key structure consists of an outer conical element l5 having an opening or sleeve I So receiving a ring I 6 serving as a manipulating member. The key has a shank I! which extends through an opening i8, said key being held in position by the spring or snap ring l9 attached to said shank on the other side of said opening l8 and fitting in the groove Isa.

Beyond the ring I9 the shank has a continuation or conical stem "which is continued in another conical portion 2| terminating inthe cross element 22 with pointed and rounded ends.

The resilient latch l3 consists of a curled plate 25 which is riveted at 28 to the rear plate ll,

k the opposite sides of turned in'edges a: we; ro-

-q tion shown and then the ends of the element 22 vided with, 21 into which'the ends of thecrosselement v manner-batindicated'inFiguresiland3.

Ihe23intheplateflandllinthe llareofsuiilcientsizetoreceivethekey intothepositionshowninFigures ito 5 byplacing the key l2 when the element I. is unlatched from element ii ninety degrees from its posiinserting the conical pot-.- tions 2. and'2l into the openings 23 and 2|.

At this time the end 22 will be positioned paralielly of the curled plate element l3 and upon being turned ninety degrees in either direction, will ride over and depress the edges 32 of the plate and finally snap into the recesses 21 where a firm and rigid lock will be obtained.

It will be noted that the outside plate II is offset at It so that its offset portion may lie in the front of the plate II and permit the outside portions of two plates W and II to be flush with each'other, this being best shown in Figure 3.

In Figure 'l is shown how three latching devices indicated at A of the construction disclosed 6; may be utilized to lock a license plate B in position.

In Figures 8 and 9 are shown alternative keyhead constructions, the head l5 of Figure 8 beingprovided with a flllister slot ii to receive a screw-driver and the head l5 of Figure 9 having an outstanding fin It to be grasped and turned by the fingers. 7

It is thus apparent that the present application has provided a simple, inexpensive and readily manipulated locking device of general application to automobile constructions or to other uses and which is of particular value in places where a durable, inexpensive and strong locking construction is desired.

It will be noted that the key element I2 may be turned in either direction to'lock the device and that the resiliency of the plate 25 together with the snapping of the element 22 into the recesses 21 will give a firm connection which will not tend to loosen with rattling or shaking of the device to which the lock is applied.

In the embodiment of Figures 10-to 14 is shown a construction which is adapted automatically to lock itself in position and which is particularly designed for the connection of license plates to supporting frames in such a manner that they may not be readily removed.

It is to be understood, however, that although the attachment of license plates is one preferred locking device of Figures 10 to limaybewidelyusedin other connections to form a self locking latch arrangement.

In the construction of Figureslo to 14, similarly functioning parts are referred to in the-construction of InFigures 10 to14,thebar ll, permanently attached to the frame work of the carorbeanactualstructuralpartofthebody, is provided with a slot 50. If desired. imtead forming the slot I. in the bar II, it may be formed directlyinthebodyor frame structure of the automobile or other vehicle which is to carry the license plate. 7

The resilient curled locking plate I! is not attachedto the element lifibutis ant 22 are designedtosnap'inthe atitsbaseiitintotheslotllinthebarllt ingsliaaud indicated by'the same. numerals provided with a superior 4 as they are deviceandislockedin tionhythekeyele m'entll. Thedownturned es provided with a single (see Figures 13 and 14) The split ends I20 'ofthe wire 2 are p into the hole Ila while the continuous intermediate portion l2b of the wire extends through the hole lib.

The portions 52c will'extend beyond the slots II but the inside portions '20! will remain withwith the inturned edges and 51. provided with the inturned tangs ti which 00- operate with the inturned end flanges it at the base of the railient plate It to enable proper positioning during attachment. The curled plate II as shown in Figure iiiv is positioned so that the flange l6 and thetang I will be'in contact before insertion of the key I2 (see Fig. 13).

It will be noted that the longitudinal intumed edge 51 of the license plate B closely fits onto the longitudinal edge of the bar II.

It will be noted that the opening 23 is of key hole shape and has a central opening'12 and the extensions 5! which cooperate with the extended upper portions 20 of the resilient elements 52 to lock the key 2| in position when it is inserted through the spring member it.

In operation, it will be noted that the key I2 may be readily inserted through the opening I, the slot 5! and the opening 21 in the spring element II, the spring finger portions 520 being pressed into the slots II by the opening Has the key 2! is inserted atan angle of 90' from its locking position. The end 22 of the key 2| ismadeofsuch'sise thatitmaybeinserted' throughtheslotsil.

when the keyisturned 90' afterithasbeen inserted through the piateB, the bar and the spring member II. the portions I20 of the resilient members 82 will-spring out and snap into the slot II of the key hole slot 23.

Whenthis'occumthedevieewillbelocked intopositionandwillnotberemovednorwillunauthorized people beable readily to remove the iicensefromtheantomohileorvehiclewhenitis attached, as shown in Figure 17,

'Inl'igureslfiandlfiisshownatoolforremovingthelicenseplatesandunlockingthedevice,- said tool of a u-shaped munber tlwiththesidelegsl andtheinturnedtoufl ticularlydiihculttcloosenthedeviceandunlock Serial No.,129,1'l2, flied March 5, 1937, in

that the plate of the present application has its side portions not only upturned but also inturned to engage the enlarged head 22 of the key which may be made integrally with the shank 2| of the key.

Furthermore, it will be noted that in the present application the locking means 52 is provided, cooperating with the slot 59 to hold the key locked in position.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have been given by wayot illustration and not by way of limitation and that the structures above described are Subject to wide variation and modification without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present invention.

What is claimed. is:

v 1. In combination, two elements, one of said elements having an opening therein and the other carrying a rotatably mounted key member extending through said opening, and a resilient sheet metal plate means having two opposite sides, first curved upwardly and then curved inwardly to resiliently engage said key member, the intermediate portion of said plate means contacting the element having the opening.

2. The combination ot-claim 1 in which said key member has lateral projections at the end thereof and said opposite sides are recessed and receive said lateral projections in said recesses.

3. The combination of claim 1, in which said plate means has two end portions mounted in said last mentioned element.

4. The combination of claim 1, in which one of said elements consists the other element consists of a support-for said license plate.

5. In combination, two elements connected together, one of said elements having an opening. a resilient latch, member rotatably mounted on one of said elements, and extending through said opening, and a resilient sheet metal plate means having two opposite sides turned upwardly and outwardly to resiliently engage said key, the intermediate portion oi! said plate means contacting the element having the opening and said key member and plate'means being also provided with interlocking means to prevent turning of said key member from engaged position.

8. The combination of claim '5, said last mentioned means including spring wires on the key and recesses in the plate means to engage said spring wires.

of a license plate and said latch comprising a key 

